Jollees - The Final Curtain

[@AlfaBmwKarma]

My parents gigged here many times, They were friends with Mel and many of the others involved with the club. I remember going inside the next day to pick up the gear (instruments etc) with my dad when I was around 10yrs old. The club was a massive part of the local music scene. Very sad to see it go.

[@parzival1958]

I started to work there as a drinks waiter (right block row G) in 1976. I did a short spell behind the bar and then moved on to the spotlights. I met a lot of the stars while on the spotlights and had drinks and meals with several of them. I worked with Mel Scholes (who coincidentally knew my cousin).

[@pedrorenard8439]

I might be mistaken, but I have memories of a shimmering Skol lager sign on the wall? It was made of small highly polished metal discs that moved in the breeze.

[@saxx001]

Fixed the ice machines behind the stage whilst some big stars were on, Staffs Refrigeration and Air Conditioning , Cannon St, Great times.

[@Jane-rc2rk]

Saw the three degrees at the jollees…and the grumbleweeds!

[@martjackson7942]

Omg was it really that long ago

[@dazzp2]

Great video m8

[@charlesplant5297]

Thanks for the visit

[@kathleenswift7979]

My mum loved Jollees, specially when Charles Aznovour was there😁

[@tangerinedream7211]

Remember they frequently had the darts there on tv.

[@leigh6417]

Wasn’t the 1983 BDO World Darts Championship held at Jollies?

[@dazzp2]

yes , Deller did a 138 check out on Eric rip Bristow, Eric played the safety/ percentage shot then Keih D hit T 20 , T18, D12 ,,,,, Great win, he silenced EB, then EB won in 84 and 1985 , pretty sure it was the last final at Jollees beating John Lowe before going down to The defunct Lakeside where darts as we knew it back then died until the PDC .... I was there in 1980 nwhen EB won is first title vs Bobby G .. GREAT DAYS

[@leigh6417]

@@dazzp2 I went to lakeside around 1990, I had a photo with Bristow, wearing my shellsuit :). I remember the thick smog of cigarette smoke that filled the room and the incredible atmosphere.

[@Dont_stay_long_k077]

@@leigh6417 Oh, that was Jocky Wilson Dressing room lol, remember who the sponsor was "Embassy", pretty sure the non smokers even thought *in for a penny* they got 200 free fags everytime they played lol, even Peter Purvis was going over on Nicotene lol, no, I get ya, I remember that atmosphere better than any gig years after, the Post Xmas tournament just oozed the town in Longton with people from all over the world, there wasn't exactly a diary like they have now, most players turned up, and were back being a Joiner /Builder etc n the day after being knocked out, but as you said that atmosphere was electric, the TV highlights even then didn't do it justice, then years, well, only 3, 4, Eric opened the CC pub in Smallthorne and that apart from The Park Inn warm up of a weekend was Be in by 8pm or you cued, many a Friday we even went Vale Social early because it was 3 in 10 out, Red lion even had cues around the corner,( when lil Robbie had peed off bed lol) great, great days, we had Boslem, Hanley, The Place, it I think will have a place in most people's hearts reading this, Maxims Castle, the city had Drama, and Dancing and Drink n be merry without being glassed, sadly now it's Dust,,, and I not from "Kilns" RIP Jolless

[@chiefrocka8604]

Was Bill Morris the same Bill Morris who owned Hednesford Hills Raceway too anyone know ??

[@johnrobertson8263]

What happened to the showband?

[@andymountford5756]

John ended up on a cruise ship